Have The Floyd Mayweather Mind Games Already Started?

Conor McGregor is ready to go but Money has yet to confirm– is this all part of his plan?

Image Getty

The Floyd Mayweather mind games may have already started with Conor McGregor’s representatives still unsure as to whether the fight to end all fights will go ahead.

A confrontation between UFC superstar McGregor and the undefeated Mayweather has long been in the offing, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

However, if McGregor’s camp are to be believed, it’s not the Irishman who is holding things up. According to McGregor’s head coach John Kavanagh, they are more than prepared for the potential bout.

“Everything has been agreed from Conor’s perspective, from numbers to ruleset (pure boxing),” he said. “I don’t know what’s taking Mayweather so long to sign the contract but we’re 100% ready to go.

“The ball is in his court now. We’re training for the fight — September has been mentioned — so we’re just waiting for the news with each passing day.”

No one likes uncertainty and waiting around and there’s more than a sneaking suspicion that this may have been part of Mayweather’s plan all along.

Dana White previously expressed similar concerns to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto over potentially lengthy negotiations with Mayweather’s representatives. “If that deal can get done, then we’ll get it done. If we can’t, I’ll need to move on,” he told ESPN. “It’s either going to happen this year, or it’s never going to happen at all.”

“Conor wants to fight twice this year. He feels the same way. He wants one of those fights to be Floyd, if possible.”

Mayweather in the ring Will Money make a return? Image Getty

With McGregor chomping at the bit to get in the ring, Mayweather has so far remained non-committal, despite all the signs pointing towards the very real possibility of a fight happening.

“A lot of fighters in the sport of boxing may want to retire, but they have to fight because they have to. I don’t have to fight,” he told USA Today a few months back. “I made $300m for fighting Pacquiao. I’m OK. Like I said before, I’m happy with my position. Once again, the money don’t make me; I make money. I’m well off. I make smart moves, and like I said before, I’m happy with where my career went.”

Mayweather is no stranger to tricks and mind games. They have helped him get under the skin of fighters like Ricky Hatton in the past.

And it wouldn’t come as a massive surprise to find out Mayweather has ramped up his training already in preparation for a fight he will eventually give the go-ahead to. In delaying a decision, he may ultimately be increasing the pressure on his opponent. Judging by Kavanagh’s comments, it might just be working.